AUSTRALIA

People Music Performance

Branches recognise three for service to movement

Pipe Bands Australia congratulates its three newest life members recognised through their state branches for service to the movement.

Tony Coen - Tony joined the Tasmanian Irish Pipe Band in 1961 as a trainee side drummer. During the 1970s, Tony was promoted to Drum Sergeant but spent a lot of his time in the role of Drum Major. During this period, the Irish Band was a successful competition band and was State Champion Band for a number of years in succession. The Band disbanded in 1976 and most of the drum corps and some pipers joined the Hobart Highland. Tony became Drum Sergeant shortly after joining and managed to reap the Best Drum Corps trophy for the Band at a Tasmanian Championship a few years later. Some of Tony's memorable moments include winning his first Best Drum Major's trophy at a State Competition in 1994, yaking part of tattoos and other piping events, such as Australian Pipe Band Championships Tattoo (1972), Tasmanian Military Tattoos (1976, 1977), Federation Tattoo (2005), Celebration in Launceston (2006). Tony has also had a long connection with Tasmania Police Pipe Band and has served as chairman of the Tasmanian branch of Pipe Bands Australia for more than a decade and officiates as a dress and drill adjudicator.

Carol Hart – Carol has been in the pipe band scene since the late 1960s and was a piper when she joined Melbourne Ladies’ Pipe Band. She retired from the Melbourne Ladies in 1979. After leaving, Carol joined Southern Ladies where she was Drum Major for a few years. Then joined St Andrews Ladies in the late 1980s where she was Drum Major for approximately 15 years, and during this time she also played pipes. Carol has been a Dress & Drill judge for many years and was Vice Principal Dress & Drill for approximately 10 years before retiring from the position.

Peter McLoughlin – Peter has been a member of since 1960. He played pipes with Moorabbin City Pipe Band for many years and later he became the Band Secretary. He played in all contests with the band under the guidance of Pipe Majors Eric Christie and the late Bill Bruce. In the 90s he moved to the Great Ocean Rd to a farm and so devoted he travelled from Wongarra to Clayton RSL as the Moorabbin band was then known for practice for two years, a three-hour drive each way. Deciding the travel was too far, one day when in Colac shopping when he found ladies selling raffle tickets for the Colac Pipe Band and mentioned he was a piper so they found his address on the raffle ticket. Pipe Major Doug Moore rang the VHPBA Secretary to ask her to find out about this tall piper, and he subsequently joined the band. Peter has since played with Newtown and now plays contests with Geelong RSL Pipe Band. He has been a Contest Supervisor since the 1990s, and has been Vice Principal of Rules & Administration for almost ten years.